Drive/Propeller Shaft: Testing and Inspection
INSPECTIONCheck the propeller shaft with the propeller shaft installed to the vehicle.
1) Remove the front exhaust pipe.
2) Remove the rear exhaust pipe and muffler.
3) Remove the bolts to remove the front heat shield cover.
4) Check the propeller shaft mounting bolt for looseness.
(1) Yoke flange mounting bolts which connect to the rear differential
(2) Center bearing bracket mounting bolts
5) Check the spline and bearing for the propeller shaft.
(1) Turn the propeller shaft by hand to check if abnormal free play exists at splines.
(2) Also move yokes to check if abnormal free play exists at spiders and bearings.
6) Measure the deflection of the propeller shaft.
(1) Set the dial gauge (B) with its indicator stem at the center of the propeller shaft (A).
(2) Turn the propeller shaft (A) slowly by hands to check for runout of the propeller shaft.
Runout:
Limit: 0.6 mm (0.024 in)
7) Check the center bearing for free play.
Move the propeller shaft near the center bearing up, down, left, right by hand, to check for any abnormal free play of the bearings.
8) Replace the propeller shaft assembly if faulty is found in the inspection.